By Charles McClure
news@ltview.com
Two Lakeway residents went to Travis County Commissioners Tuesday, seeking help to control loose running and feral dogs that have killed more than $50,000 of domestic livestock in three separate attacks over the last 30 days inside Lakeway’s city limits.

 Bob Pope and Gwen Wunneburger told commissioners that their breeding stocks have been wiped out by the recent attacks.
“We wanted them to understand what a serious issue this is,” Pope said after the meeting. “The commissioners seemed very concerned. After all the livestock is gone, would these dogs attack a child? No one would ever want this issue to come to that.”
Pope and Wunneburger went to commissioners after another dog attack left 20 dead goats and sheep on the Wunneburger ranch on RR 620 between Sunday and Monday. The attack took place while the property owners were out of town at a Johnson City auction.
The Travis County Extension Office has confirmed dogs, not coyotes, carried out the latest attack, noting that dogs hunt for sport, as well as food, and will attack, maim and kill dozens of animals, mutilating their bodies in the process.
This most recent attack left co-owners Joe and Gwen Wunneburger, longtime residents of the area, emotionally devastated, wiping out the last of their livestock.
“This was all of my breeding stock,” Gwen Wunneburger said, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t know what to do.”
The Wunneburgers have seen this before. Over the years, loose running or feral dogs have repeatedly victimized their stock.
Lakeway Police Chief Gordon Bowers called the latest attack “very sad.”
“This is a 40-acre tract of land,” Bowers said. “It is large enough to support some feral dogs or coyotes. Lakeway residents also need to be careful. A number of yards run along this property line and their pets could also be victimized.”
The county is concerned and even dispatched animal control officers to the Apache Shores subdivision north of Lakeway, with assistance from the Lakeway Animal Control Unit. Officers wrote eight citations and impounded 10 dogs, according to a spokesperson for Pct. 3 Commissioner Karen Huber’s office.
“What happened to the Popes and Wunnegburgers is unacceptable,” Huber said. “My concern is something like this will happen again, and next time it could even be a person who is attacked. It is imperative that a system be in place that works for now and the future and my office is working with the different jurisdictions towards that end.”
Pope said he felt reassured by Huber’s concern.
“She was very genuine and I appreciated that,” Pope said, who lost 30 goats, 30 chickens, a turkey and a peacock – roughly $40,000 in top-quality, selective breeding stock in an attack that took place Jan. 29.
Pope said the attacks represent both the good and bad aspects of human nature.
“People have a responsibility to take care of their dogs – to keep them properly and securely fenced,” Pope said. “But we have also seen a lot of kindness in light of all that has happened.”
However, Pope is taking no chances and has family members sleeping near their livestock every night to help fend off another attack.
Animal activist Gretchen Pachlhofer was so shocked by the attacks that she immediately began helping to raise funds to help Popes purchase new breeding stock. Now, she has added the Wunnegburgers to the cause.
Pachlhofer chairs “The Friends of Mrs. P,” a local nonprofit organization that helps stray and unwanted pets. Her foundation is collecting money to help the families recover from the losses. Donated funds will go towards offsetting the veterinary costs for the surviving animals.
For Huber, such kindness has been the only positive aspect of the situation.
“I am heartened, though not surprised, by the outpouring of support shown to the Pope and Wunnegburgers families through letters and donations,” Huber said “Central Texans are known for their big hearts.”
Bowers said it is an uphill fight to get a handle on the loose running and feral dog dilemma.
“We actually may have more resources for this than the county does,” Bowers said, noting that there are thousands of acres of green space in the area that can sustain dogs, as well as native wildlife.
Huber concurred, saying only coordinated efforts would have any impact on the situation.
“The City of Lakeway and City of Austin/Travis County animal control have excellent staff,” Huber said. “My office is working with both to ensure the current problem is resolved and that good coordination is in place that will keep neighborhoods safe in the future.”
For dogs that are not properly fenced, Huber is asking for citizens to take responsibility. She said concerned citizens could also be helpful to get the situation under control.
“I must add, that citizen participation is an important part of the solution,” Huber said. “Dog-owners have a responsibility to their dogs controlled so they are not dangerous to others.”
Huber warned that failure to properly care for domestic pets is illegal and owners can be held accountable in criminal and in civil court.
To donate or for more information write Friends of Mrs. P, Pope Family Fund, 6 Glenway Dr., Austin, visit www.FriendsofMrsP.org, or call Gretchen Pachlhofer at 261-5055.